EIGHTIES icon and former Newton resident Rick Astley is to perform at the Parr Hall next year.

His UK tour will see him return to Warrington on April 5 ahead of the release of his first album in 10 years.

Rick's career began in 1987 when his debut single, Never Gonna Give You Up, went to the top of the charts within two weeks of its release.

The former St Peter’s School pupil went from being a tea boy for hit makers Stock Aitken Waterman to a millionaire almost overnight.

The rest of the world soon followed suit with Never Gonna Give You Up reaching number one in 25 countries including most of Europe, Japan, United States and Australia.

Rick, who used to work at his dad Ozzie's garden centre in Newton, continued to dominate the charts.

He was in the top 40 every week for the first six months of his career and his debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody, sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.

After a string of eight consecutive top 10s Rick decided to call it a day in 1993.

He concentrated on raising his daughter Emilie and built a studio in Fulham to learn the craft of making a record.

But he surprised fans by making a comeback in 2004 to perform his own hits alongside classics from Sinatra, Bacharach and The Carpenters.

As well as a sell-out UK tour in 2012, Rick opened up for Peter Kay’s record breaking 'The Tour That Does Tour –Tour' and has performed festivals every summer.

This will be Rick’s first major UK headline tour in four years and it is also his first time at the Parr Hall since his FBI days.

- Rick will perform at the Parr Hall on April 5. Tickets are on sale tomorrow, Friday, at 9am. Visit gigsandtours.com or ticketmaster.co.uk